APPENDIX A
LIST OF PESTS AND DISEASES INTERCEPTED DURING THE BIENNIUM......42

APPENDIX B
RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE STATE PLANT BOARD IN EFFECT
JUNE 30, 1924.

APPENDIX C
THE QUARTERLY BULLETIN, VOLUMES VII AND VIII.

Fifth Biennial Report

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

January 15, 1925.
To His Excellency,
John W. Martin,
Governor of Florida.
SIR: Herewith is submitted the report of the State Plant
Board of Florida for the period beginning July 1, 1922 and end-
ing June 30, 1924. Please submit same to the Legislature.
Respectfully,
STATE PLANT BOARD OF FLORIDA,
By P. K. YONGE,
Chairman.

REPORT OF STATE PLANT BOARD
There has been little change in the practices and policies of
the State Plant Board in carrying out the purpose and intent of
the Florida Plant Act of 1915 (Chapter 6885, Laws of Florida)
as they have been developed since the passage of the Act creat-
ing the Board. The regulatory work of the organization under
the direction of the Plant Commissioner has, in our opinion,
contributed greatly to the prosperity and stability of our agri-
culture through efforts to prevent the introduction into the
state or the distribution within the state of injurious plant
pests. The prosecution of the campaign to eradicate citrus
canker has been continued without interruption and with appar-
ent success. No new centers of infection have been located
since the discovery of the Davie infection in May of 1922 as re-
ported in our last biennial report. Under direction of the Legis-
lature the Board has undertaken certain investigations with
respect to cotton pests and of measures to control these pests.
Specialists in both Entomology and Plant Pathology are em-
ployed for this purpose and laboratory as well as field work is
being carried on. All of these activities are reported on in the
report of the Plant Commissioner which is incorporated in and
made a part of the Board's report. There is also presented the

6 State Plant Board of Florida

report of the Board's Secretary as to the administration of the
state funds placed at the disposal of the Board.
The personnel of the Board at the end of the biennium is as
follows: P. K. Yonge, E. L. Wartmann, W. L. Weaver, J. C.
Cooper, Jr., and A. H. Blanding. Messrs. Yonge, Weaver and
Cooper had been appointed as members by Governor Hardee in
July, 1921. Mr. Wartmann was reappointed to succeed himself
and Mr. Blanding to succeed J. B. Sutton in July, 1923. The
present Board was organized July 9, 1923, with P. K. Yonge as
Chairman and J. T. Diamond as Secretary.
The reports of the Plant Commissioner and Secretary are
transmitted herewith.
STATE PLANT BOARD,
P. K. YONGE,
Chairman.

During the past two years the policies and practices of the
Board have been continued along the same lines as formerly.
It is believed that the Board's efforts to prevent the introduc-
tion into and the spread within the state of serious plant pests
have been in large measure successful.
There have been no recurrences of citrus canker in any of
the localities where the disease had previously been found and
the situation with respect to the most recent outbreak, that at
Davie which was found in May of 1922, is most encouraging.
No infected trees have been found there or elsewhere in the
State since October 18, 1923.
So far as known, no pest of first importance has been intro-
duced, and the nursery inspection service has functioned with
a fair degree of efficiency notwithstanding greatly increased ac-
tivity in the nursery business and the handicap of a small force
of inspectors.
Former reports have been somewhat detailed and elaborate.
Now that the Board has been functioning for almost ten years,
its work has become systematized and the public is well advised
as to the nature of the Board's work, it is not thought neces-
sary or advisable to submit a report dealing with the work in
such detailed manner as formerly. The Board members are
cognizant of the manner in which the Plant Commissioner and
the department heads have handled the particular phases of
Plant Board work assigned to them. The members of the State
Legislature and the public generally, by reason of the extensive

State Plant Board of Florida

and rather voluminous reports heretofore submitted, have been
kept advised as to the efforts made by the Board to protect the
state's horticultural and agricultural industries. This report
will therefore deal especially with the more important aspects
of our work during the biennium closing June 30, 1924. In the
compilation of the statistical matter here presented, an im-
mense amount of detailed information has been condensed. This
is particularly true with respect to the data included in the
section devoted to the activities of the Nursery Inspection De-
partment.
The Plant Commissioner would here call attention to the
limitations on the complete and most efficient operation of this
department through the greatly increased plantings of nurser-
ies in the state without correspondingly increased facilities for
making the necessary inspections. Under the climatic condi-
tions existing in this state and the character of the nursery
stock grown and planted, it is regarded by the best authorities
that four inspections a year of all nursery stock are essential.
This has been our aim, but we regret that during the year just
closed barely two inspections have been made on an average.
This deficiency is accounted for by the astonishing development
of field plantings, which has called for corresponding expansion
of the nurseries. As an illustration, it may be stated that the
acreage planted to citrus in this state was, in 1919, 160,397
acres, while in 1923 this acreage had increased to 253,570. In
order to meet the demand from planters for trees, the citrus
nurseries increased from 1,910 acres in 1919 to 4,416 acres in
1923. The number of inspectors engaged in the nursery inspec-
tion work is totally inadequate. The number of men it has been
possible to assign to this work was reduced by two in 1923-24
as compared with 1922-23, notwithstanding the increased plant-
ings. Obviously the work suffered. It is earnestly hoped and
expected that financial provision will be made for expanding
this department to keep pace with the demands.
As in the past, the work of the Board has been conducted
under the general supervision of the Plant Commissioner. The
major activities have likewise been conducted under the im-
mediate supervision of officials acting as department heads.
These major activities have been classified as
(a) Citrus Canker Eradication and Grove Inspection
(b) Quarantine Inspection
(c) Nursery Inspection

Fifth Biennial Report

(d) Entomology, Including Boll Weevil Control
(e) Plant Pathology, Including Cotton Disease Investigation
(f) Apiary Inspection
Certain special lines of work on situations requiring attention
of a special nature, not specifically contemplated under the gen-
eral plan of departmental classification, are supervised by the
Plant Commissioner personally or, under special assignment,
by some one of the department heads; as, for instance, the ef-
forts to eradicate the sweet potato weevil in certain portions of
the State and similar efforts to prevent the spread of, and to
minimize the effects of, the mosaic disease of sugar cane.
The Plant Commissioner is pleased to report that in all lines
of endeavor the Board's efforts have resulted, in his judgment,
in benefit to the State. It is a matter of pardonable pride that
other states, observing the good accomplished by the State Plant
Board of Florida, have modeled, in many respects, their own
work after that of Florida.

CITRUS CANKER ERADICATION

If any one of the chief departmental activities might be called
the most important, it would probably be that of Citrus Canker
Eradication and Grove Inspection. Ten years ago the citrus
growers of this state were thrown into consternation through
the discovery of a strange and unknown disease attacking citrus
trees. Experts were at a loss to identify it and curative or
repressive measures were of no avail. Finally the condition was
recognized as one which was quite common in Japan and other
parts of the Orient. Under the favorable climatic conditions in
Florida and the Gulf States the disease threatened to prove
disastrous. The conclusion was reached that only through com-
plete eradication could the citrus industry be saved and a vig-
orous campaign was entered upon participated in by growers
and both the state and federal governments. The total cost of
this effort, up to June 30, 1924, has been great, involving an
expenditure of $1,718,037.45, which does not include the value
of trees, infected and noninfected, which were destroyed in the
course of the campaign. Large as this sum is, it is insignificant
when compared to value of the industry which has been saved.
Conservative estimates of the value of the citrus grove plant-
ings in Florida place the figure at $250,000,000.00. The citrus
crop of 1923-24 amounted to 20,000,000 boxes. There is no ques-

State Plant Board of Florida

tion but that this large industry has been saved through the
joint efforts of the State Plant Board and the Bureau of Plant
Industry, United States Department of Agriculture.
Inspectors of the Board have not only combated citrus
canker in the Davie section, but have kept under close observa-
tion all areas where the disease had formerly been found and
apparently stamped out. Then too, during the biennium a
complete survey of all citrus plantings in the state was fin-
ished. During the two-year period more than twelve million
citrus grove-tree inspections were made by agents of the Board.
This does not mean that twelve million trees were inspected,
for many trees in the infected and exposed areas were inspected
repeatedly. During the year ending June 30, 1924, 26 inspectors
have been engaged in this work.
The following summary supplies the essential information
concerning the eradication of citrus canker in Florida up to June
30, 1924:

SUMMARY

Total number of properties found infected in the State.................... 510
Total number declared no longer danger centers.............................---... 502
Number still classed as active infections, June 30, 1924.................... 8
Number of properties declared "clean"...................---................. 486
Number of properties still under partial or full quarantine, June
30, 1924 .................................................................. ............................. 24
Total number of grove trees found infected May 1, 1914 to June
30, 1924 ..----................-.... ------------...... 15,151
Total number of nursery trees found infected May 1, 1914 to June
30, 1924 ..........................................---- .........-...............--- 342,260
Total number of "exposed" grove trees destroyed, May 1, 1914 to
June 30, 1924 .-.......................---- .......... ........ ............. ..... 236,873
Total number of "exposed" nursery trees destroyed, May 1, 1914
to June 30, 1924.........--.................--- ...- .. ... ..----- .- -......- ..--2,720,525
The sums expended in this work in Florida from its inception
are shown in the following tabulation:
Federal State Other
Funds* Funds Sources
Prior to May 1, 1920.................---$ 860,973.51 $362,258.63 $85,019.62**
May 1, 1920 to April 30, 1921.... 38,577.04 61,587.66 ...
May 1, 1921 to June 30, 1922.... 16,944.42 81,555.32 ....
July 1, 1922 to June 30, 1924 ..... 83,786.61 127,334.64 .. ...
Totals ............. .......................$1,000,281.58 $632,736.25 $85,019.62
Total, all sources ........................... ---- ----------$1,718,037.45***
*Does not include special salary increases provided by Act of Congress.
**Includes donations from inspectors,, transportation companies, growers, etc.
***Includes expenditures directly chargeable to citrus canker eradication.

Fifth Biennial Report

The following tabulation shows the total number of grove
trees found infected with canker by months and years since
the work began in May of 1914.

Citrus canker has been found in twenty-two counties in the
State. In the 510 infected properties, 15,151 grove trees and
342,260 nursery trees have been found diseased and destroyed

NURSERY INSPECTION

The methods made use of by this department to prevent dis.
tribution of plant pests by means of nursery stock have not
been materially changed during the past biennium. The volume
of nursery inspection work has very greatly increased, necessi-
tating a reduction of the number of inspections per annum to
each nursery. It has been our objective to not only make
thorough inspections but frequent ones as well. Owing to the
extensive activity in nursery operations, it has not been possible
to make on an average more than two inspections a year. These
inspections have been careful, as is evidenced by the number of
nurseries which were refused certification or which had certifi-
cates suspended. For the year ending June 30, 1924, there
were 657 nurseries from which certification was withheld or
suspended. Some of these nurseries were unable to pass rein-
spection, bringing the total number of "refusals" (not nurser-
ies) for the year up to 965. In the preceding year the number
was 310. The total number of nurseries, both commercial and
non-commercial, under inspection for 1922-23 was 3,695, contain-
ing 4,698 acres. In 1923-24 there were 4,784 nurseries, with a

State Plant Board of Florida

total acreage of 6,864. In 1922-23 there were 1,566 nurseries in
the state holding certificates, while in 1923-24 this number had
increased to 2,005.
The greatest increase in number of nurseries and in acreage
under inspection has been in citrus. This was due to stimulation
of demand to meet the requirements of grove plantings. The
acreage in citrus nurseries was 3,433 in 1922-23 and 4,416 in
1923-24. This acreage includes nurseries, whether certified or
not. Many nurseries do not need certification, for it was not
contemplated that stock would be sold therefrom. However,'
all nurseries, whether propagating for sale purposes or not,
are kept under inspectional observation, for experience has
shown that stock movement is frequently made from so-called
"non-commercial" nurseries. The non-commercial nurseries
are not inspected as frequently as are those which make nursery
stock propagation a business.
Under the Florida system of nursery inspection, each pack-
age or lot of nursery stock, when moved from the property
where grown, must have a certificate tag attached. Certificate
tags, when issued are valid until used, recalled or the nursery
goes out of business. Nurseries, on the original certification,
can procure from the State Plant Board additional quantities of
tags, dependent, of course, upon the nursery continuing to pass
inspection. The use of a tag on a shipment invalidates it for
further use. The number of tags issued each year serves, in a
measure, as a fair index of the volume of nursery stock move-
ment. There were 195,028 such tags issued during the year
ending June 30, 1924. There were 14,293 more certificate tags
issued in 1923-24 than in the preceding year, which was itself
a record breaking year. The number of individuals or firms
holding certificates increased by 593.
Most states, including Florida, require, as a preliminary to
authorizing shipment of nursery stock into the State, that a
certificate of inspection from the home state of the nursery
be filed with the proper official of the state into which the stock
is to be shipped. Florida nurserymen have engaged quite ex-
tensively in export business. In 1922-23 the Nursery Inspector
issued to Florida nurserymen 290 such certificates for filing in
31 states and in 1923-24, 254 for filing in 32 states.

Fifth Biennial Report

PERMIT CERTIFICATES

Under the Florida law (Section 8 of the Plant Act of 1915)
there are certain requirements which must be complied with in
order to make shipments of nursery stock into the State. All
such shipments are subject to inspection when coming under the
observation of inspectors of the Board. Many are handled each
year by inspectors of the Quarantine Service. When found to
be infected or infested, they are either properly treated or re-
fused delivery.
In order to facilitate movement of stock into the State as well
as to have a record of such movements, the certificate or permit
provided for in Section 8 of the Plant Act is issued to out-state
nurserymen after the Nursery Inspector has been supplied with
a signed copy of the certificate issued by the inspector of nur-
sery stock of the state wherein the nursery is located, and has
also been supplied with such other information as may indicate
the reasonable assurance that shipments may be made with
safety. All shipments made under permits must be reported to
the Nursery Inspector by invoice just as are shipments made
within the State.
During the year ending June 30, 1923, 34,383 permit certifi-
cate tags were issued to 247 out-state nurseries. For the year
ending June 30, 1924, 284 nurseries secured 36,925 permit cer-
tificate tags.
In connection with the actual inspection of nurseries in Flor-
ida the State Plant Board system contemplates having a com-
plete record of all stock movements made under certificate. This
means all stock, for none can be moved legally unless accom-
panied by a certificate tag. This practice insures proper use
and accounting for such use of all tags issued. In addition, and
perhaps of more importance, there is provided a record of all
stock-quantity and kind-shipped, by whom and to whom.
There is, consequently, available important information at all
times in event of necessity arising to follow up nursery stock
movements.
Citrus constitutes the bulk of nursery stock moved in this
state. From our records we are enabled to submit the follow-
ing tabulation showing the quantity of citrus stock moved in
Florida during the past several years.

As in all regulatory work, there are at times infractions of
the rules and regulations of the State Plant Board. This is par-
ticularly so with respect to the requirements as to the movement
of nursery stock. It is a matter of surprise and of congratula-
tion, however, that the observance of these restrictions is most
excellent. When investigation shows that violations are unin-
tentional, admonition and advice are given. When, however, it
is evident that there were intentional and premeditated viola-
tions the Board has instituted proceedings. During the bien-
nium there were seven prosecutions and seven convictions; three
of the convictions were in cases pending at the close of the pre-
vious biennium. There are now three prosecutions not dis-
posed of. Since the inauguration of the Plant Board work,
forty-eight cases have been tried and forty-three convictions
secured. This is a record which is very creditable for it indi-
cates two things of importance: general observance of the
Plant Board regulations and that the Board is not oppressive
or unreasonable in the administration of its work.

QUARANTINE DEPARTMENT

In the protection of the State's plant industries it is obviously
of no avail to maintain protective service within the State if at
the same time efforts are not made to .prevent the introduction
of new and additional plant pests from without. The Board,

Fifth Biennial Report

therefore, has put forth every possible effort in this direction.
A division was early created (the Port & Railway Inspection De-
partment, later known as the Quarantine Department) whose
particular duty it is to see that shipments of nursery stock and
plant products into the State are made in conformity with the
rules of the Board. Inspectors of the Quarantine Department
are stationed at the maritime ports and the principal rail gate-
ways. All plants and plant products coming under the rules of
the Board are carefully scrutinized. Prohibited materials are
rejected. Diseased or insect-infested plants are either treated
and made safe or otherwise disposed of, and in other ways the
rules of the Board are applied. In the process of the application
of the Board's rules all vessels, domestic and foreign, arriving
at Florida ports are inspected and shipments by freight, ex-
press and mail are likewise safeguarded. In the inspection of
foreign vessels and the handling of plant materials from for-
eign countries the Board's inspectors, holding appointments as
collaborators of the Federal Horticultural Board, administer the
federal regulations as well as those of the state. In this work
the closest cooperative relations exist with the operatives of the
Customs, Immigration and other Federal Services. Inspectors
of the Quarantine Department are stationed at Pensacola, Jack-
sonville, West Palm Beach, Miami, Key West, Fort Myers and
Tampa. There are now fourteen men attached to this service.
The men at West Palm Beach and Fort Myers are engaged in
grove inspection and nursery inspection work, as well as acting
as inspectors of the Quarantine Department. At other smaller
ports of entry, as Apalachicola, St. Augustine, etc., the Cus-
toms officials cooperate with us in handling foreign imports of
plants.
During the biennium 4,516 vessels from foreign ports were
boarded and inspected, while 4,885 domestic vessels were simi-
larly inspected. On account of the grave danger of the intro-
duction of new and dangerous pests from abroad, such as fruit
flies, the black fly and the citrus canker, particular attention
is given to the inspection of foreign shipping. At Key West,
Miami and Port Tampa (the ports through which the bulk of
foreign imports pass) fumigating plants are operated where
all fruits, vegetables and other plant materials entering under
permit are fumigated with hydrocyanic acid gas.

The following tabulation is presented showing the work of the
Quarantine Division by years since this work was inaugurated

There is presented herewith statistical information in the
form of a tabulation showing the work of the Quarantine De-
partment by years, since the work was inaugurated.
A complete list of the pests intercepted is appended to this
report. Some of the more important are here listed.

The control of plant pests and the prevention of their spread
is based upon a knowledge of the life history and habits of in-
sects and the causes, symptoms and effects of plant diseases.
Much of this information is available from past work of the
specialists in those lines. Much is yet to be learned.. Also in
regulatory work it is essential that correct identification be
made of conditions found by field investigators. Then, too, new
pests are from time to time reported with which field agents
are unfamiliar or about which accurate scientific knowledge is
lacking.

Fifth Biennial Report

While the State Plant Board is essentially a regulatory or
police organization and not engaged primarily in scientific, re-
search work, yet it is necessary in connection with the regula-
tory work to have available specialists in entomology and plant
diseases to make identifications and to conduct special investi-
gations pertaining to particular activities in preventing, control-
ling and eradicating plant pests. This is particularly true in
handling situations like the discovery of the presence of coco-
nut bud rot in coconut plantings on the lower east coast and
in carrying out the expressed wishes of the State Legislature in
continuing investigations for perfecting measures for the con-
trol of the cotton boll weevil and of cotton diseases.

ENTOMOLOGY

The chief function of the Department of Entomology is to
identify insects collected by the field inspectors engaged in the
work of the other departments. This is especially so with re-
spect to the Quarantine and Nursery Inspection Departments.
Depending on the determination of the identity of insects by
specialists of the Department of Entomology frequently rests
the decision as to whether or not a nursery shall be placed under
quarantine and the length of the quarantine if imposed. Like-
wise, in connection with the work of the Quarantine Depart-
ment, decision as to the disposition of intercepted plants or
plant products is dependent on the identification of insect pests
on the specimens collected. Not only does the identification
work of the Department serve this purpose but it also is avail-
able for grove owners and farmers seeking information as to
the nature of insects affecting their crops. In the course of the
biennium ending June 30, 1924, 6,322 specimens were received,
identified and recorded. This makes a total of more than 20,000
identifications made since the organization of the Board's work.
In the early years of the Board's work it was found desirable
that growers have available a source of supply from Which
could be secured pure cultures of the fungi which are parasitic
on the citrus whiteflies and this project was undertaken.
Growers have secured, at a nominal cost, 1,369 pure cultures
from the Department during the biennium. '"''
The Department of Entomology has also continued to l collect,
rear and distribute Vedalia, a species of lady bird betle which
preys upon and holds in subjection the cottony cus ion-scale.

State Plant Board of Florida

More than 8,000 of these beneficial insects were distributed dur-
ing the biennium. A very small charge is made for this service.
The Department has contributed to the investigation of the
nature of and the control measures for an apparently new aphid
which appeared in the citrus groves of the peninsular section
of the state in 1924. In the early part of this year, 1924, re-
ports of an unusual infestation of aphids on citrus began to
pour in from the vicinity of Tampa and Valrico. The bloom
buds as well as the new growth buds were literally covered with
aphids and much loss of young fruit and stunted growth was
the result. Treatment was in general largely ineffective since
re-infestation took place almost immediately. This condition
prevailed until about June 24th, when an epidemic reduced the
aphids everywhere to practically insignificant numbers except
in the Fort Myers area, where severe infestation continued
several weeks longer. Sooner or later, however, evidence in the
shape of dead aphids began to appear from practically all parts
of Florida where the aphids occurred. We have called this epi-
demic, whatever it is (bacterial, fungoid or hot weather) "nat-
ural mortality." Investigations in an endeavor to isolate the
causative agent have so far been without results, but the aphids
are at least temporarily under control.*
It should be added that with the Tampa area and the Valrico
area as apparent centers, the aphids appeared to spread, first
over Pinellas County, Polk County and southward into the Fort
Myers area, later to the Vero area on the East Coast, including
Georgiana, and finally southward to Homestead. They have
also appeared in the Leesburg, Citra and Gainesville areas. How
far northeast they have spread in the Jacksonville direction is
not known.

SWEET POTATO WEEVIL

In past reports information has been supplied regarding the
work of the Board in connection with the sweet potato weevil
(Cylas formicarius Oliv.). This weevil has been known to be
present in the southern part of Florida for many years and has
seriously handicapped commercial sweet potato growing in
that section. The coastal region from the northern line of Vol-
usia County around the tip of Florida and on up the West Coast
to the northern line of Pasco County for some distance inland
*Subsequent to June 30, 1924 the aphid was identified as Aphis spireacola. The causa-
tive agent of a disease affecting this aphid has also been determined as EntomopthorJ sp.

Fifth Biennial Report

has been infested by the weevil. Several interior counties have
also been found to be infested. The quarantine regulations
safeguarding the shipment of sweet potato tubers and plants
from infested sections have without doubt materially aided in
preventing the spread of the weevil.
In one northern county, Baker, the sweet potato weevil had
gained foothold. In this county the Bureau of Entomology of
the United States Department of Agriculture, in cooperation
with the State Plant Board, undertook to conduct a large-
scale experiment to eradicate the weevil. At this time the ex-
periment gives promise of being successful. At the same time,
somewhat smaller experiments have been conducted in the more
southern counties. Although a definite and positive conclusion
as to the results of this experimental work cannot now be
reached, it appears that eradication in all sections and under all
conditions will not prove practical. In limited, isolated areas
and under favorable climatic conditions such as exist in north-
ern Florida, it may be that eradication could be resorted to with
good prospects of success. The prospect is not so promising in
south Florida. It is hoped, however, that by a continuance of
the work of the Bureau and of this Board a practical, workable
plan may be developed for the control of the weevil on individ-
ual farms to permit of successful commercial growing of sweet
potatoes.

COTTON INSECTS

Brief reference was made in the last biennial report to the
fact that the Plant Board had undertaken investigations with
respect to the boll weevil. The results of the early investiga-
tions were reported in an article entitled "Preliminary Report
upon an Improved Method of Controlling the Boll Weevil," pub-
lished in the Quarterly Bulletin of the State Plant Board, Octo-
ber issue, 1922, Volume VII, No. 1, and as Bulletin 165 of the
Florida Agricultural Experiment Station. In these publications
were presented the investigational work done by Associate En-
tomologist George D. Smith on the life history of the cotton boll
weevil and a description of a method of control which gave
promise of affording a means of successfully combating the wee-
vil under Florida conditions. The announcement of Mr. Smith's
work and of this control method created a great deal of interest
among both cotton growers and entomologists. This work was

State Plant Board of Florida

regarded as a valuable contribution to the efforts of the scien-
tists to evolve a satisfactory control measure. The report of the
work of Mr. Smith and the announcement of the striking re-
sults obtained were not presented as anything other than as a
step in the fight against the weevil. The method of control was
subsequently named "The Florida Method" by Secretary Wal-
lace of the United States Department! of Agriculture and it is
now referred to in this manner by investigators and the public.
The State Legislature at its 1923 session provided for a con-
tinuance of the investigations to develop information regarding
the biology and habits of the boll weevil and other injurious in-
sects affecting cotton and of means of control. The Board has
maintained a field laboratory at Madison, Florida, and has con-
ducted field experiments at that place and at Gainesville. The
main object is to improve on the control methods now in use
and to test various methods of treatment which appear to pos-
sess merit. In the course of this work the Board's entomolo-
gists have discovered that in the application of calcium arsen-
ate in a liquid form as a poison on cotton plants a certain vari-
ation from the formula usually advocated appears to give better
results under Florida conditions than other calcium-syrup-water
mixtures and also that the use of the poison in liquid form gives
as good results as when applied in dust form and at a consider-
ably lower cash cost to the planter. A detailed account of this
work was published in the Quarterly Bulletin, Volume VIII,
No. 2.
At the time of preparing this report the cotton insect investi-
gation is well organized and the efforts to find a solution for the
cotton farmer's big problem, the control of the boll weevil, are
being continued unremittingly. The activities of the Board's
employees have not been directed solely along investigational
lines. They have in conjunction with county agricultural agents
given at various places in the cotton planting section of the
state demonstrations as to the control measures recommended
and have attended numerous farmers' meetings, giving ad-
dresses on the subject. During the current season rather ex-
tensive experimental and demonstrative work is being carried
on in Jackson County,in addition.to that at Madison and Gaines-
ville. In other counties similar work is being done on a some-
what smaller scale ,in. cooperation .with. county, .agents and
farmers.

Fifth Biennial Report 23

PLANT PATHOLOGY

As inspectors of the State Plant Board in their field work en-
counter diseases of plants as well as insects affecting the plants,
it is necessary that provision be made for expert advice regard-
ing these diseased conditions and also that positive identifica-
tions be made by trained specialists possessed of suitable labora-
tory facilities. The Board does not maintain a completely
equipped laboratory of its own. Through a very satisfactory
arrangement which has been made with the Agricultural Ex-
periment Station of the University of Florida, the laboratory
facilities and staff of pathologists of that organization have been
made available for the purpose of identifying specimens of dis-
eased plants and rendering other service as occasion requires.
In partial return for this the Plant Board has from time to time
supplied certain special laboratory equipment and supplies for
the joint use of the two organizations. As an instance of this
may be cited the construction by the Plant Board on the Sta-
tion property of a completely equipped and adequately safe-
guarded and heated greenhouse where intensive studies are be-
ing made of the disease of citrus known as citrus canker. We
desire here to express our appreciation of the great assistance
the Experiment Station staff has rendered the Board. This is
especially so in connection with pathological work. The Plant
Pathologist of the Station has been designated, under the co-
operative arrangement, as Pathologist on the Plant Board staff.

COTTON DISEASE INVESTIGATIONS

As part of the work of the Plant Board, the Legislature of
1923 imposed the duty of conducting investigations of diseases
and insects affecting the cotton plant. Reference has been made
to the cotton insect investigations under the section of this re-
port devoted to the Department of Entomology. In the investi-
gation of cotton diseases the work has been under way such a
comparatively short time that there is but little to present as to
results as of the date of this report.
By direction of the Board a competent plant pathologist was
employed and certain special 'laboratory equipment'vWas secured
for the prosecution of this work. Studies have been inaugu-
rated of the behavior of cotton under Florida conditions, of dis-
eases such as wilt, anthracnose and others common to cotton, of

State Plant Board of Florida

the effects on yield and avoidance of disease through the prac-
tice of delinting of cotton seed, of varieties resistant to disease
and of the influence of fertilizers in combating disease. We are
pleased to report that this phase of the Board's work is in most
excellent shape and with its continuance from this good begin-
ning we may anticipate results of great value.

COCONUT BUD ROT

In the southern part of the peninsula, that is from the lati-
tude of Stuart south, the coconut palm flourishes and by its
beauty and magnificence contributes to the tropical aspect of
that favored part of the state which is developing so rapidly.
The coconut palm, more than any other one thing, perhaps, not
even excepting the genial climate, attracts the winter resident
and visitor, as well as the investor. In the development of this
area hundreds of thousands of coconut palms have been made
use of in producing landscaping effects of surprising beauty. This
demand has resulted in the upbuilding of a large industry, the
coconut palm nursery business. Some extensive commercial
plantings have also been made.
From time to time during the past ten years reports have
been received to the effect that certain coconut palms were af-
fected by a condition which was thought to be the coconut bud
rot, a most serious disease which has devastated coconut plant-
ings in parts of Central America, the Philippines and the West
Indian Islands. Investigation of these reports invariably re-
sulted in our failure to find true coconut bud rot.
In January of 1924, one of the assistant nursery inspectors,
while making the customary inspections of nurseries in Dade
County, noted in a block of coconut palms an abnormal condition
of the palms and submitted specimens to the Plant Pathologist
at Gainesville. These arrived in such a stage of decomposition
that identification of the disease was impossible. Additional
specimens were secured and laboratory examinations confirmed
the suspicion that the disease was true coconut bud rot, caused
by the organism Phytophthora faberi. Further intensive field
inspections resulted in the discovery of what appeared to be the
same disease in several plantings in and near the cities of Miami
and Miami Beach. Diseased palms have also been located in
several coconut palm nurseries. In March a consultation was
held at Miami, participated in by Doctor W. H. Weston of Har-

Fifth Biennial Report

vard University, Doctor W. T. Horne of the University of Cali-
fornia, Doctor O. F. Burger, the Board's Pathologist, and the
Plant Commissioner. At that time Doctors Weston and Horne,
both of whom are eminent plant pathologists thoroughly fam-
iliar with coconut diseases and who were fortunately in Florida
and available for consultation, confirmed the conclusion pre-
viously reached by our own specialists as to the identity of
the disease. Quarantines have been imposed on all plantings
wherein diseased palms have been found and all diseased palms
have been destroyed as found. The cooperation of all interested
and affected parties has been most cordial.
Although no special funds are available for the prosecution
of an eradication campaign, the Plant Board forces have been
active, in so far as resources would permit, in endeavoring to
not only prevent the spread of this disease but to stamp it out.*
The source of the infection is not definitely established.

MOSAIC DISEASE OF SUGAR CANE

In the last biennial report we recounted the efforts to sup-
press and to prevent the spread of the mosaic disease of sugar
cane. This disease had been found in cane fields in a number of
West Florida counties. Efforts at eradication and to minimize
the damage caused by the disease proved ineffective, mainly be-
cause of the indifference or inactivity of cane planters. It was
difficult for them to realize that this disease, unless controlled,
would occasion serious losses. Consequently farmers failed to
cooperate with the Board in its project of eradication and de-
clined to adopt the recommendations with respect to cultural
practices to avoid loss. The result has been that the disease
has become very firmly established in the earlier affected areas
and the farmers are now appreciating the wisdom of the advice
they refused to accept.
The spread of the disease, despite the adoption of quarantine
precautions, has been steadily progressive as was expected.
With the close of the present biennium sixteen counties in North
and West Florida are included in the quarantine rule of the
Board which prohibits shipment of sugar cane from areas in
which the mosaic disease has been found. It is believed that the
*On December 8. 1924. the Governor and the Plant Board authorized the expenditure
from the Emergency Fund of a sum not to exceed $10.000 in the investigation and control
of coconut bud rot. This will permit of the employment of a plant pathologist to study
this disease and the assignment of field inspectors to make a survey to determine the sever-
ity of the infection and the extent of the area involved.

State Plant Board of Florida

utilization of this precaution will retard the rapid spread of the
disease. In the meantime cane growers can be preparing for
the inevitable invasion by securing and propagating varieties
of sugar cane which are immune or highly resistant to the dis-
ease. The Board has endeavored to assist in this by planting,
in cooperation with the Agricultural Experiment Station, a
variety of cane, Cayana 10, which is resistant to the mosaic
disease. During the fall of 1923, 35 carloads of seed cane of
this variety were distributed, free of cost, to farmers in North
and West Florida. The distribution was made mainly through
the County Agricultural Agents. It is our hope that by this
means adequate planting stock will be made available.

APIARY INSPECTION DEPARTMENT

Prior to 1919 no efforts had been made in Florida to eradi-
cate, control or prevent the spread of diseases affecting bees or
to prevent the introduction into the state of such diseases. The
apiary industry of Florida was one of considerable importance
and it was known that in certain localities there existed dis-
eases of bees which were influencing the prosperity of the in-
dustry and unless controlled would further jeopardize it. The
Legislature, responding to the expressed desires of the bee-
keepers, enacted in 1919 a law known as the Bee Disease Act
of 1919 imposing upon the State Plant Board the duty of afford-
ing protection to the apiary interests of the state. An Inspec-
tion Service was developed and the Board adopted the policy of
attempting to eradicate the most serious of the diseases affect-
ing bees, American foul brood. It was known that this disease
had gained foothold in some sections but the extent was not
known.
The preliminary investigation served to show that it was an
entirely practical procedure to undertake the eradication of this
disease by the destruction of all diseased colonies and the prac-
tice of certain recognized sanitary procedures. The work was
launched and has been prosecuted vigorously. Apiary owners
have cooperated fully and on the whole the results have been
most satisfactory. It is now believed that the disease has been
"cleaned up" in the areas where the situation was most seri-
ous and that under a system of continued efficient inspection
the apiaries of the state will be well protected. It is not ex-
pected that there will not be further evidences of American foul
brood found in this state. On the contrary, there will be. We

Fifth Biennial Report

have, however, reached the point of practical, commercial con-
trol.
During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1923, 1,012 apiary in-
spections were made. There were comprised in these 23,883
colonies. Eighteen apiaries were found to be infected with
American foul brood. The number of diseased colonies totaled
thirty. For the year ending June 30, 1924, inspections of 21,857
colonies in 785 apiaries were made. The result was the find-
ing of but 13 diseased colonies in only nine apiaries.
The progress of the work of eradication is best shown by the
following table.

In the prosecution of the eradication and inspection work the
practice was followed of employing local inspectors who are
practical beekeepers-not technically trained apiarists-who are
thoroughly familiar with bee diseases, especially American foul
brood, and are well trained in inspection methods. These men
are paid only for the time actually employed. The only salaried
or full time employee of the Board engaged in this work at this
time is the head of the Department, who is a specialist in bee-
keeping and particularly well qualified to handle regulatory
work.
The Apiary Inspection Department does not confine its ac-
tivities merely to inspection work, but in the absence of any
other state agency engaged in extension work in apiculture, en-
deavors to be of assistance to beekeepers by giving advice
through, correspondence, bulletins, contributions to the press
and attendance at meetings of beekeepers, During the course
of the annual Farmers', and Fruit Growers' Week meetings
under the auspices of the College of Agriculture, University of
Florida, the Apiary Inspector has given lectures and demonstra-
tions. for the, benefit of beekeepers in attendance.

State Plant Board of Florida

COOPERATION

The closest and most cordial cooperative relations with other
agricultural and horticultural organizations have existed. Such
organizations have extended to the Plant Board invaluable help.
The Federal Department of Agriculture through its Bureau of
Plant Industry has continued to aid in the eradication of citrus
canker, and the same Bureau has assisted in the mosaic disease
campaign.
Through the Bureau of Entomology, the Department of Ag-
riculture has very materially contributed to the success of our
efforts to control the spread of the sweet potato weevil and to
eradicate this insect from the isolated areas in Baker County,
where it had become established.
The Federal Horticultural Board has continued the appoint-
ments of Assistant Quarantine Inspectors of the State Plant
Board as Collaborators of the Federal Horticultural Board, thus
giving authority to the State Inspectors to apply the Federal
plant quarantine rules. The State, however, bears the salary
and other expenses involved.
The Agricultural Experiment Station of the University of
Florida has never failed to lend the support of its experts, and
the Agricultural Extension Division has, on many occasions,
supplemented the Plant Board's activities.
Members of the Plant Board staff have been present at and
participated in numerous meetings of horticulturists and agri-
culturists in all sections of the State. Members of the staff have
also taken part in a limited way as special lecturers and in-
structors in the educational work conducted by the College of
Agriculture and Agricultural Experiment Station, and have
contributed to the success of the "Farmers' and Fruit Growers'
Week" held annually at Gainesville under the auspices of the
College of Agriculture.
RULES

To meet new situations or changed conditions, new rules of
the Board have been adopted from time to time or existing rules
have been amended. Authority for this is given under the Plant
Act of 1915. Previous reports have contained a synopsis of
the rules of the Board up to and including Rules 45A and 45B.
The following rules have been adopted or amended during the
period covered by this report.

Fifth Biennial Report

RULES AND PUBLIC NOTICES

1922
August
(1) Public notice with regard to Scaly Bark, adopted.
(2) Rule 15 adopted.
(Prohibiting movement of citrus trees from Scaly
Bark area.)
September
(1) Public notice with regard to shipments of green
beans and green peas from states in which the Mex-
ican Bean Beetle is known to be present, adopted.
October
(1) Rule 4G changed to read Rule 4.
(2) Rule 4 amended.
(Prohibiting the movement of uncertified nursery
stock.)
(3) Rule 4G amended.
(Listing plants not subject to inspection and certifi-
cation.)
(4) Rule 48 adopted.
(Prohibiting the shipment into Florida of green
beans and green peas from states in which the
Mexican Bean Beetle is known to be present.)
November
(1) Public notice declaring certain insects and diseases
to be public nuisances amended to include the Satin
Moth.

1923
January
(1) Rule 5E amended.
(Citrus seeds added to list of material, the plant-
ing of which is prohibited in canker-infected prop-
erties.)
February
(1) Public notice declaring certain areas in Florida to be
infested with the Sweet Potato Weevil, amended.
(2) Public notice declaring certain additional areas in
Florida infected with Scaly Bark adopted.

State Plant Board of Florida

March
(1) Public notice declaring certain additional areas to be
infected with Scaly Bark adopted.
April
(1) Rule 4D amended.
(Providing for the defoliation of nursery stock be-
fore moving.)
September
(1) Rules 39A and 39B revoked.
Rule 39 adopted.
(Providing for the disinfection of avocado nursery
stock.)
(2) Public notice declaring certain areas in Florida to be
infested with the sweet potato weevil, adopted.
October
(1) Rule 48 amended.
(In regard to the shipment of green beans and green
peas in Florida from states in which the Mexican
Bean Beetle is established.)
November
(1) Rule 4C amended.
(Providing that nursery stock be completely covered
for transportation.)

1924
February
(1) Public notice declaring certain areas in Florida to be
infested with the Sweet Potato Weevil, adopted.
(2) Public notice declaring certain areas in Florida to be
infected with Scaly Bark adopted.
April
(1) Rule 6 amended.
(Regarding certificates to be used on shipments of
citrus nursery stock in Scaly Bark Territory.)
(2) Public notice declaring certain additional areas in
Florida to be infected with Scaly Bark amended.
May
(1) Rule 43 rescinded.
(Prohibiting certain material from areas in other
states known to be infested with the European
Corn Borer.)

Fifth Biennial Report

(2) Public notice defining areas in other states in
which the European Corn Borer is present, specify-
ing the host plants of this pest, and stating condi-
tions under which host plants of the European Corn
Borer may be shipped from the infested areas into
the State adopted.
(3) Rule 44 rescinded.
(Prohibiting certain material from areas in other
states known to be infested with the Japanese
Beetle.)
(4) Public Notice declaring certain areas in other states
to be infested with the Japanese Beetle, specifying
the plants and plant products likely to be infested
by this pest, and stating the conditions under which
the host plants of this pest may be shipped from the
infested areas into Florida.
June
(1) Public notice declaring certain additional areas to be
infected with Scaly Bark adopted.

PUBLICATIONS

The Board has continued to issue certain publications for the
information of the public. Circulars containing the rules and
regulations of the Board are issued from time to time. "Quar-
antine Notices" for the special information of transportation
companies and of shippers are published and distributed. The
Quarterly Bulletin of the State Plant Board has appeared reg-
ularly each quarter and has served a useful purpose in dissemi-
nating knowledge regarding plant pests and their control, as
well as information as to the activities of the Board.

RECOMMENDATIONS AND ESTIMATES

The Plant Commissioner has, prior to the date of this report,
submitted to the Board recommendations and estimates of
amounts of funds believed to be necessary to properly conduct
the inspectional and other activities of the Board for the bi-
ennium beginning July 1, 1925. The estimates are as follows:

It is also recommended that the State Legislature be re-
quested to again provide an emergency fund of at least
$50,000.00 per annum for the use of the Board in event of the
occurrence of serious plant pests in the State.

EMPLOYEES

Following is a list of employees of the Board as of June 30,
1924:
LIST OF EMPLOYEES, JUNE 30, 1924
STATE PLANT BOARD

Tallahassee, Florida, August 1, 1923
To the State Plant Board:
GENTLEMEN: I herewith submit the following report of the
receipts and disbursements of the Board during the fiscal year
beginning July 1, 1922 and ending June 30, 1923:

Plant Commissioner's Office:
For Salaries ....-....................................$
For Office Supplies ...........................
For Traveling Expenses .................
For Printing .............................
For General Supplies..........................
For All Other Purposes....................

Entomological Department:
For Salaries ........................................$
For Office Supplies ............................
For Traveling Expenses ....................
For Printing ........................................
For General Supplies ..........................

Bee Disease Eradication:
For Salaries ..........................................
For Office Supplies.............................-
For Traveling Expenses ..................
For Printing ....................---..............
For General Supplies ......................

Eradication of Mosaic Disease:
For Traveling Expenses ....................$
For General Supplies .....................

Citrus Canker Eradication:
For Salaries ........................................-----------$
For Office Supplies ..----.......................
For Traveling Expenses .................-
For General Supplies .........................-
For All Other Purposes ..-..............

Nursery Inspection:
For Salaries ......-----------................. ......- $
For Office Supplies..............................
For Traveling Expenses ..................
For Printing ..........-.............-.............
For General Supplies .......................
For All Other Purposes ..........-----......

Sweet Potato Weevil Eradication:
For Salaries .------..............................----.........$
For Office Supplies ....--------.........................
For Traveling Expenses ....................-
For Printing ..................................-----------..
For General Supplies ..............----.....
For All Other Purposes ...........---......

Boll Weevil Investigations:
For Salaries .............................. ...--------
For Office Supplies ......................
For Traveling Expenses ....................
For General Supplies .................
For All Other Purposes ......................

Entomological Department:
For Salaries ....--..-....-- ..-----.-------$
For Office Supplies ............................
For Traveling Expenses ...................
For General Supplies ..........................
For All Other Purposes ..................
Plant Commissioner's Office:
For Salaries --.............................---------.
For Office Supplies ..............................
For Traveling Expenses ....................
For Printing ...---.....----...-.......-- ---
For General Supplies ..........................

Administrative:
For Salary of the Board's Secretary

Respectfully submitted,

633.21
149.52
486.44
772.60 $ 2,041.77

4,501.00
613.83
1,028.94
1,233.08
12.10 $ 7,388.95

1,408.33
294.72
125.27
374.13
38.12 $ 2,240.57

1,359.50
478.97
95.84
1,048.07
20.82 $

3,003.20

$ 250.00 $150,000.00

J. T. DIAMOND,
Secretary, State Plant Board.

Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 1924

Tallahassee, Florida, August 1, 1924
To the State Plant Board:
GENTLEMEN: I herewith submit the following report of the
receipts and disbursements of the Board during the fiscal year
beginning July 1, 1923 and ending June 30, 1924:

Boll Weevil Investigations:
For Salaries .........................................$
For Office Supplies ...........................
For Traveling Expenses ......................
For General Supplies ........................
For All Other Purposes ...................

Fertilizer & Variety Tests:
For Office Supplies ............................$
For Traveling Expenses ..................
For General Supplies .......................
For All Other Purposes ...................

Fertilizer & Variety Tests (Cotton):
For Salaries ......................................
For Traveling Expenses ....................
For General Supplies ........................
For All Other Purposes ....................

RULES AND REGULATIONS MADE BY THE STATE PLANT
BOARD PURSUANT TO THE FLORIDA PLANT ACT
OF 1915, IN EFFECT ON FEB. 15, 1923
PUBLIC NOTICE.
Declaring Certain Insects and Diseases to be Public Nuisances.
'Under the provisions of the Florida Plant Act of 1915, Chapter 6885,
approved April 30, 1915, the State Plant Board of Florida, in accordance
with Section 5 of said Act, does declare the following insects and diseases,
and each and every plant and thing infested or infected therewith, to be
public nuisances:
Insect or Disease Plants Likely to Become Infested
or Infected

Rule 4.s The movement from a property or along a public road, or de-
livered for such movement, of all trees and plants and parts thereof con'-
monly known as nursery stock, including woody perennials, palms and
banana plants, and including budwood and scions, intended for propagating
purposes, which do not have attached conspicuously to the outside of the
container holding the nursery stock a proper certificate tag issued by the
State Plant Board to cover the movement of nursery stock and which have not
been prepared for movement in accordance with the rules and regulations of
the State Plant Board in other respects is hereby prohibited. Provided that
shipments of nursery stock consigned to points outside of Florida may have
attached thereto, in lieu of the Florida certificate tag, a permit tag issued
by the state of destination.
Rule 4A.' The following insect pests and diseases are hereby declared
to be especially injurious and are declared to be insect pests and diseases
which should be controlled and their dissemination prevented, within the
intent and meaning of Section 12 of the Florida Plant Act of 1915: